To Rescue or Ravish? Read Online Free PDF Page B

to marry that rat.”
    She eyed her cup, which she could no longer reach. “I shall always be grateful to Matt for—” She caught his scowl, and her smile vanished. “Give me back my wine!”
    “You’ve had enough. Let’s get that announcement written.” He snatched the paper and pencil from Bird, who had already done a sketch of Bella, all animation and big, shining eyes. He tore a piece off the bottom of the paper and returned the sketch to Bird; he would deal with him later. “You can’t compose it while you’re drunk.”
    “Drunk on half a cup of wine? Don’t be ridiculous. I’m merely having fun. I should get some pleasure out of this situation, shouldn’t I?”
    She certainly wasn’t acting like an icicle now.
    * * *
    “Definitely, darling,” Bird purred, and Matt knew an urge to throttle him. Nobody gave pleasure to Arabella Wilbanks except Matthew Worcester, and that was that. His cock signaled its agreement.
    Suddenly, she wouldn’t meet his eyes, and her colour fluctuated uneasily. Probably realized she’d gone too far. Probably aghast at her indiscreet behaviour, but she didn’t know the worst of it yet.
    She straightened and said primly, “‘Arabella Wilbanks refutes yesterday’s notice of her engagement, which was inserted without her knowledge or approval.’ Frightfully boring, isn’t it?”
    “That kind of notice is supposed to be boring,” Matt said, writing it down.
    “But think what fun if we could mention my uncle the pig and Sir Reginald the rat.”
    “You needn’t do that,” Matt said, resigning himself to the inevitable, which might well include murder on his part. “Bird will be delighted to do it for you.”
    Her delicate brows drew together. She fixed her wide, beautiful eyes on Bird. “ You’re going to call them a pig and a rat?”
    “Not in so many words,” Bird said, grinning.
    “Bird draws caricatures,” Matt said.
    * * *
    She’d been awfully indiscreet, and it hadn’t done the least bit of good. She’d only been trying to show Matt that she wasn’t what he thought. She’d assumed his bosky friends were harmless. Evidently, he’d been stern and stuffy for a reason.
    Not that she had the slightest objection to seeing Uncle Wilbur and Sir Reginald ridiculed in every print shop window in London. On the other hand, she would be made fun of, too.
    “Oh, well,” she said, hoping she sounded amused. “In for an inch, in for a mile.” She wanted to cry, but strangely enough, it wasn’t because she would be caricatured. She’d already resigned herself to ruin. It was that look on Matt’s face, as if he couldn’t believe what she’d done. How could she have been so utterly shameless? She didn’t know what had come over her.
    Yes, she did. She wanted him. She wanted to drown in pleasure with him again, just like seven years ago. That glow in her belly, which had remained banked and hidden for so long, had been stirred to life by his mere presence. And when he’d ordered mulled wine… Oh, God, that had sent flames through her veins until her fingers tingled with the need to touch him, and her toes curled inside her boots, and her core ached with desire. She’d become reckless, because nothing else mattered.
    Except that Matt didn’t want her. She wasn’t even tipsy, but he was right to refuse her more wine. Not that he knew why, but she needed her wits about her and every ounce of self-control she possessed.
    She composed herself. “Maybe it will be worth it.”
    “It’s not that simple.” Matt stood again and pulled her to her feet. “Before he does anything, you and I are going to have a little talk.”
    Did he think she would let him lecture her like a disapproving parent? “That doesn’t sound like much fun.”
    “If Matt’s set on being a spoilsport,” said one of the men, “you can come have a good time with me instead.”
    Matt shot him a look that would have terrified the leaves off a tree and handed Bird the paper on which he’d